Customer Reviews

Play Monk and Powell

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While like many albums this one has its great moments and its so-so moments, it has quickly become one of my favorites. I have a growing distaste for jazz that is neo-traditionalist, that is, for jazz that feels there is a certain way of doing things and a certain style and certain instumentation that must be present in order for it to be jazz. I think, as do many others, that the only tradition in jazz is innovation. The best players have constantly sought out new ground, as does Motian and gang here. Paul Motian's numerous albums as a leader, in particular featuring innovative and modern-sounding guitarists like Bill Frisell, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Wolfgang Muthspiel, are works that keep my interest in and hope for jazz alive. On this album, as with others of his 90s releases, I for one get this great charge out of hearing that these are standards (or not-so-standard compositions of jazz forefathers) done with a touch of irreverence to the neo-traditionalists. While I truly enjoy the individual tracks, the great audio quality, and the fascinating instrumentation (2 guitars and 2 saxes), I must say that what I like most of all about this album is its attitude, an attitude which says, "It's the year 2001 (or there abouts) and we're going to pay homage to some great predecessors but in a way that is entirely our own."

Keep it up, Motian et al. I just regret that so many of Motian's albums (some of the best recorded jazz of the last 15-20 years) are out of print.

Motian here gives tribute to the two greatest composers of the bop era, Thelonious Monk & Bud Powell. Monk tributes are getting pretty commonplace these days, but Powell has been until recently rather underrated as a composer: like Monk & unlike the rest of the boppers his tunes typically were carefully composed structures using original chord changes (rather than relying heavily on contrafacts on "I Got Rhythm" & the blues).

Motian's treatments here are robust & (mostly) straightforward, despite the unusual structure of his band--two guitarists, two tenor saxophonists, electric bass & drums. They're quite beautifully done, the paired musicians striking many sparks ("Little Rootie Tootie" & "Blue Wail" are particularly energized). And yet...compared with, say, Motian's sublime _Bill Evans_, I feel this disc is polished & beautiful but lacking greater depths. That's rather odd, for an album in tribute to Monk--one of the most abrasive & idiosyncratic of pianists--& Powell, whose music's fierce highs (blinding-fast tempos & labyrinthine solos) & gloomy lows (ponderously doleful ballads) aren't much in evidence here. This album is full of well-played music, but compared with (say) Steve Lacy's Monk dissertations it feels rather glossy. I'd recommend instead a few of Motian's recent sideman appearances, where he's in more inventive form than on this disc: _You and the Night and the Music_ by Helen Merrill, Lee Konitz's _Three Guys_, & _Not Two, Not One_ by Paul Bley.

I paid $2 covers while under-age to see Steve Cardenas play at Milton's in Kansas City with another great guitarist, Rod Fleeman. Both are in the pantheon of my favorite players. Of any instrument. This is, as far as I know, the first of his work with Motian (who I first heard on Bill Evans' Village Vanguard sessions), this is one of my favorites, gets heavy play in my den. Of course, Swallow is also a favorite of mine. Cardenas told me he thought the "Europe" album was more cohesive, more of a 'band' and I agree, it is more integral, as is "Holiday for Strings," but this is a great album. All three are, if you care at all for jazz, real jazz, not mass market 'smooth jazz,' but actual artists, essential listening. Also check out Mark Isham's tribute to Miles, the "Silent Way Project," which Cardenas also plays on. And even though you end up paying in Euros, Steve has a couple of solo albums on Fresh Sounds that you won't find on Amazon that are worth the trouble. Both have Larry Grenadier on bass, and you Brad Mehldau and Pat Metheny fans will probably find "Shebang" and "Panorama" worth buying just for Grenadier's four string prowess.

Steve is a powerful, insightful guitarist, at home in a variety of genres, an emotional and intellectual stimulant of the first order. Also check out his work as a side with Steve Million, another under-exposed cat. These guys are the real deal.